SEASPAR Recognizes Outstanding Participants, Volunteers

CLARENDON HILLS, IL – The South East Association for Special Parks And Recreation honored three outstanding participants in its programming for individuals with disabilities with special awards at its annual Believe & Achieve Recognition Banquet on May 23, including a Clarendon Hills resident. Community partners, staff, and volunteers were recognized as well.

The organization said Becky Cavanagh of Clarendon Hills received SEASPAR’s new recognition introduced this year, the Rising Star Award, which is presented to a participant in SEASPAR’s youth programming who has a positive attitude and positive interactions with their peers and staff.

Cavanagh, who has Down syndrome, was the youngest ever SEASPAR participant at only 23 months old when she first rode the Serena’s Song accessible hot air balloon that SEASPAR sponsors each year at the Lisle Eyes to the Skies Festival, SEASPAR said in a release.

Cavanagh is now 12 years old and continues participating in SEASPAR programs and is also an accomplished Special Olympics athlete, becoming a Global Messenger at just 10 years old. This year’s Special Olympics Illinois Cop on a Rooftop fundraising campaign featured her in advertisements.

According to the organization, Samantha Wagner of Woodridge received SEASPAR’s Athlete of the Year award, which is presented to a participant in SEASPAR’s athletics programming who displays a positive attitude, good sportsmanship, teamwork, knowledge of the game, and skill. Owen Murphy of Downers Grove received SEASPAR’s Cultural Artist of the Year Award, which is presented to a participant in SEASPAR’s cultural arts programming who recognizes the importance of cultural arts.

SEASPAR also recognized a Community Partner of the Year, which was presented to Level UP Basketball Academy of Downers Grove. Level UP was formed in 2011 to provide children with high level basketball coaching in a positive, fun, and encouraging environment.

Additional awards were presented to outstanding staff and volunteers, including Program Assistant Bob Ackermann of Western Springs, Inclusion Aide Sue Willis of Woodridge, and volunteer Ann Saladino of La Grange, according to SEASPAR.

“At SEASPAR, we celebrate the achievements of our participants in every program, whether it’s a Special Olympics athlete making her first catch in Softball, an adult with socialization challenges interacting with his peers, or a child with autism learning to decompress in our Wonders Multi-Sensory Room,” SEASPAR Executive Director Matthew Corso, said in a release. “That positive energy, encouraging our participants to believe in themselves and achieve their potential, is at the core of what we do, and formally acknowledging our participants’ accomplishments with our Believe & Achieve Recognition Banquet is a highlight of the year for staff and participants alike.”

Photos provided by SEASPAR.